Road Rage Victim Denied Justice

'When we got that verdict, we got physically ill'

Josh Deraitus was driving home from the gym in early January of 2011 when his world was turned upside down.

While in transit, the Seattle resident accidentally cut off another another driver, who became enraged and started following Deraitus, trying to pass him several times. According to court documents, the driver of the other vehicle then pulled up alongside Deraitus, drew out a gun and shot him in the face.

"I just remember thinking, 'If I pass out, I'm not opening my eyes, and this is how I'm going to die here in the street,'" he told KEPRTV.

Deraitus said that he got a very good look at the shooter before he pulled the gun.

"I saw his face," he said. "I saw him shoot me. I knew I was shot."

He was to the hospital where he wound up losing his eye, but his nightmare didn't end there.

Authorities arrested Justin McCleod, who, according to KEPRTV, was a felon with a history of crimes and arrests and charged him in the shooting.

But, earlier this week, to the shock and dismay of Deraitus and his family, a King Country Superior Court judge acquitted McCleod, stating that there wasn't enough evidence to convict him.

"When we got that verdict, we got physically ill," Deraitus' father said to KEPRTV. "We know that the justice system failed us in this case -- there's no question."

McCleod walked away from the ordeal a free man and has since been arrested and imprisoned for a different crime.

Deraitus, however, will have to live with the scars of this horrific road rage incident. It took 5 surgeries to repair his face and he has lost his sense of taste and smell. But, all in all, he says that he hopes his story can inspire other victims of road rage to rise above the situation and become stronger for the experience.

"There are pros that come out of bad things like this," he said. "You get stronger."

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REALLY ANYONE WHO THINKS SHOOTING SOMEONE IS OK FOR BEING CUT OFF IS AN ASS------LE WITH A CAPITAL A. HEY CALL THE POLICE AND REPORT HIM IF HE CUT YOU OFF ON PURPOSE, WHAT A BUNCH OF MORONS WHO TRY TO SAY THIS WAS WHAT HE HAD COMING, I SURE HOPE NONE OF YOU HAVE CHILDREN.

Anonymous

2 Years Ago

I WONDER HOW THE JUDGE WOULD HAVE FELT IF HE HAD A SON AND SOMEONE SHOT HIM IN THE EYE, AND ANOTHER JUDGE LET THE SHOOTER FREE, FOR "NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE"? I GUESS JOSH COULD NOT SEE THE GUY THAT SHOT HIM IN THE FACE? GUESS THE SYSTEM WILL NOW REHABILITATE THE SHOOTER? WHAT A LOAD OF YOU KNOW WHAT. REMINDS ME OF "FAST AND FURIOUS".........

Anonymous

2 Years Ago

n ''neighborhood justice'' lol so more ov you pig supporting faggots can get shot in the face. here is how it SHOULD BE. someone makes you mad..KILL THEM.do wtf you want..when u want..and dont care who getts hurt..IF YOU GET GOT.O WELL.PRICE TO PAY FOR NOT BEING STRONG ENOUGH OR SMART ENOUGH.. all your ''laws'' rules and all that dumb **** is for weak ppl to be able to sleep at night THINKING they are safe..idk wtf your all so mad about. lol wait till **** in this country falls apart! :) no pigs to call...ppl running around with guns knifes and ******* chain saws..raping and killing for fun. lol cant.*******.wait! and with the way the econmy is going..it WILL happen. ..kind of like its happened in third world countries for years.

Anonymous

2 Years Ago

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME SEAVIEWCONSTR? so even if Josh did intentionally cut off this guy you are saying it is ok for him to shoot him in the face??? what a ********* you are....you probably cut people off everyday huh? Just remember your own words when somebody runs your a** off the road..

When the cops are not on the road patrolling it comes to this. Why do we pay taxes for the Highway Patrols to hide inside the cities writing seat belt tickets? Why are they not out in traffic, as they should be, writing the tickets that need written???